Tank-wall temperature indicator



e e Patented Nov, 2s, 1944` 'raux-WALL frEMPnRA'rURneINnloatronfl` a e e carrolln.V Walsh, Pine` Bluff, Anni. e A:Application June 30, 1943SerialNo. 492,957 l invention relates generally to indicators, and in some particular aspects to an y non of a tank wautnetemperatuf ofawhicnis indicator for application-externallyto a container certain predetermined temperatures. Y

I The present` invention is an` improvement on for indicating' the attainment-by the tank wan of and contains matter common to Ithe construction described-` in my application i `Serial No. 470,425,

December 22',` 19.43. i

iiled- December28p1942, and1"abandoned as of i -Among the objects oie-the present invention may" benotedtheprovisionof a housing carrying an` 14` claims. `(ci. nsf-114.5) temperature to be-indicatedbythedevice."` t :c I y A hollow tubular` container? I6', preferably of a, material having relatively good heat" conductivitm suchascop'penis fitted between the arms of the U-shaped mechanism support `I5 Iadacent to the I i ends thereof, being )rigidly 4secured thereto by soldering, brazing; on` other `suitable means; and arranged so that one side of the tubularfcontainer I6 projects slightlyfrom the" housing@ I0 to assure contactof theI container withthe 'tank wall 3.1.*

Thehollowof thecontairler` It is closed lat ,the

upstanding container con-taining `a. reciprocably movablelmember rigidly heldin normal position by .means of a frozen lfusible material `within the container, together with means` externally of the housing; for visibly indicatingthe occurrence of a reciprocation 'of the movable fmember which occurs in response to fusing of the fusible material;

the provisionofmeans forguiding the reciprocations of `the, reciprocably movable member;` the provision of, means. for assuring complete ree-1 e ciprocation `of tha movable `member when the lower end" and open-*atfthe uygxpe'rend;` andithe i reciprocably movable member I 1.2 is: fitted 1 loosely into the hollow, "extending downwardly thereinq` through the open and upper end. i :Ir the normal positioning reciprocable member n; isrigioly joined to the Icontainer IG'by meansof a frozen :iusible `materialfuses;.the provision of electrical contactsy to make possiblel remote as well as local indication of,` an operation of the device; and in general the .provision of. a` device of the character I described iriQwhich severaldfunctions 1 are performed by `certain elements,I `thereby, simplifying I the` construction.; other objects `will be impart e obvious, and in part pointed outhereinafter.

' Theinvention comprisesE the elements and combinations thereof,`features"ofconstruction 'and arrangement `of partstcbe exemplified inthe description tojfollow, and' the scope ofthe invention willbe specifically"pointed` outin the accornpanyingfclaims.

In the drawing: is an elevational view of the constructiomshown in section; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the `structurefas it' appears. along the line 2;-2`Qf Fig. 1.

y Referring in detail to thedawing, a boxlnke container of insulating materialLIU,V `forexample,

porcelain, open along one side, is provided asa housing for the containedmechanismof; the device.` A bolt I3, with cooperating nut I4, is arranged to passe through an openingin therear wall of the housing I l), for the purposeof supev portingV within thehousingtheA U``shaped mechanisrn support I5,y and for the purpose of support-` ing outside ofthe housing-the U-shaped hanger `attachment II The latter is arranged to engage somesort `o1" a resilient` hanger; partially shown at |`2`,` sothat the housing l0 iscontinuously urged toward the wall 3-1", the latter representing apor `fusiblematerial lu, which is.` disposed within the annular space between these members. The par` `ticular `fusible materialto' be `used `shouldxbe selected with l reference to the ldesired melting point;` for eiampleigitxmay befWoodswmetalor other eutectic alloy, *or it 1 may be some `oraanic materialhavingsuitable chafacteristic`s.` f '1 Within the housirlglrll,` and rextendir'ig laterally` across the support I5, the rotatable` shaft 42li-eis. journall'ed, and* the `-Ushaped latch member,` 2l` rigidlysecured thereto, conveniently' as a drive fit,

`centrally Withinthe space between'Vthe arms of the'U-v-shaped mechanism support I5, A portion of the shaft `24' extends to `a pointzoutside o-fLthel housingll, and to this portion `is `fastened,` by meansy of the drivepin `38,`th`e semaphore `36, the

latter I extending e upwardly and outwardly I when the shaft A24 is inlithe normal position,thereby` I continuously biasing; the shaft."` 2li1 towardtrota#` l tion in `clockwise direction `as viewed' in `Fiend., `L

A"push`rod AI9` andja pulllrodlz are'rigidly e e fastened at their respective Vupper ends to anoutjwardly extended portion "ofthe containerclosure 2'1,jfor reciproca-blemovement' with the recipro` cably movable member 1T. TThe guide block 2'5 is rig-idly clamped between the space'dfarms of the mechanism supportpIE` by meansof the rivetjZ, `and thetrod's I9" and `ZI! extendjdownwardlyin substantially parallel spaced relationship to points at opposite sides offthe shafth24 :througllfi'verti` cally extending spacedopenings in the guide block, thereby continuously I maintaining` the lower ends ofthe rods in the desired position; and restraining'many rotary movement of lthe reciprocable memberaboutits verticalaxs. Y i t I` When the' fusible-material I8' isfrozen andthe reciprocable member I1 rigidly fastened tomthe of the elements is herein regarded as the normal position.

Itmay be noted that the organization herein described is one in which the energy available for pulling the reciprocably movable member Il back to the normal position is greater than the energy available for pushing the member I I to the position to cause operation of the device, since `the pull rod engaging portion of the latch member engages the pull rod at a time when the parts have acquired momentum, and in addition, are farther over center. This construction assures proper resetting of the device, and-effectively pre- When the elements are in the normalposition, Y

the lower and hooked end portion of the pull rod 20 is positioned in the path of movement of and spaced from the laterally extending pin-23, which provides the pull rod engaging portion of the latch member 2 I.

At the lower end of the insulating housing I0,

'an electrical contact 30, formed from a strip ofv upwardly and inwardly extending-resilient conducting material, is rigidly secured to the .hous-l ing I0 by means of the terminal bolt3I and co` operating nut 32, the latter elements vclamping a portion of the contact 30 against the bottom inner surface, and a portion of thefterminal 33 against'the bottom -outer surface, of the housing Il).4 The terminal 33 is provided with a terminal vconnector 34 to electrically connect thereto a conductor 35.` y

vA movable contact portion .29 of the latch mem-A ber 2l is provided at vthe outwardly extended por- Vents sticking of the reciprocable member I1 at a point where the device cannot be relatched in the normal position upon the freezing of the "fusible material I8; In addition, the construction Y. also assures that the closure 2l of the tubular container will 4return to the position in which the container is closed, to .prevent entrance of foreign material therein or egress of th fusible tion of the latter, and the'relatively fixed normally insulated Vcontact 30 is positioned in the path of movement of the contact 29 which attends rotary movement of the shaft 24 from the normal position.'

Upon attainment by the tank wall 31of a temperature which causes fusing of the normally frozen fusible material I8, the biasing means urging the shaft 24 toward rotation lifts thepush rod engaging portion 22 of the latch memberZI, thus urging upwardly the assembly including the reciprocable member'I'I and'the rods I9 and2ll.- Before the downwardly moving pull rod engaging portion 23 of the latch member 2I=c ontacts the hooked end portion of the pull rod 2U, the bar 22 moves Yout from under the push rod I9, leaving the reciprocable member I1 free to moveV back to the normaland original position. Following the release of the push rod I9, the latch member portion 23 strikes the pull rod 20, and thereby urges the reciprocable member I'I back tothe normal position. Concurrently, the movable contact 29 moves around to engagement with the cooperating contact 30, for the purpose of completing an external circuit, not shown, andthere by ringing a bell, lighting a-lamp, or actuating some cooling mechanism.` `It may be notedA that the electrical contacts are arranged` to; close a circuit from the insulated terminal 33 to the normally grounded member I2, and the connection of apparatus for actuation, byvclosing of the contacts is believed-so apparent as to require no detailed descriptions The dashed lines of Figpl indicate the position of the contact 29, along with thatof the pull rod engaging portion 23 of the latch member 2|, Afollowing thefusing of the fusible material I8.

` The portion of the push rod I9 below the guide block 25 is formed from resilient material, and is transiently deflected by engagement with the bar 22 as the shaft 24 is rotatedto reset, subsequentlyv springing back to the normal position andagain so holding they elements if the fusible material is frozen. 1 f

material therefrom.

The foregoing description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim, as my invention:

l` A tank-wall temperature indicating device comprising a housing, a hollow vtubular container closed at the lower en'd and open at the upper end carried -by said housing, said container having one portion` 'thereof disposed within -said housing. and another' relatively smaller portion extending outside of said housing forengaging a tank wall, a reciprocably movable member extending into said container and arranged for end- Wise movement therein,` "normally frozen fusible material disposed within said container and nor-v mally rigidly fastening said member to said c'on-` y tainer by means of frictional engagement there-v with, a rotatable shaft journalled in said housing below the uppermost portion of said fusible material, a latch member fastened'y to said shaft, means biasing said shaft for rotary movement, a push rod and a pull rod, means securing said rods to said movable member adjacent to the upper end of said container, saidrods extending downwardly therealong Ain spaced relationship therewith, the lower and unfastened end ,of said push rod engaging one portion ofsaid latch member for normally restraining 'said rotary movement of said shaft and for releasing said shaft for said rotary movement when said fusible material fuses and the lower and unfastened end of said pull rod extending into the pathr of movement of another portion of said latch member for pulling said movable member back to the normal position upon occurrence of said rotary movement, guide means provided with openings through each of which one of saidA rods extends for continuously holding the lower and unfastened ends of said rods in alignment with the (rod-engaging. portions of said latch member, and

an indicator fixed on said shaft externally of vsaid container for visibly indicating the occurrence of said rotary movement. s

2. A tank-wall temperature indicating device comprising a housing, a hollow container closed at the lower end and open at the upper end carrievd by said housing, said container having one portion thereof disposed within said housing and another relatively small portion extending outside of said housing for engagement with a tank wall, a -reciprocablymovable member extending into the hollow'of said container and arranged for endwise movement with VVrespect thereto, normally frozen fusible material disposed within said hollow and normally joining said i assetati? v member to said container bymeans ofiri'ctonal engagement with the respective members, arotatab-le lshaftj-fdnirnal-led said housing, a latch t t `Irrelnrlfyerprovided with rod-engaging` portionsfastened to said shaft,` means' biasing said shaft' t toward rotary movement, means fastening a push rod andfapull rod4 to' saidmovable` member at a point above said fusible material, said rods extending` downwardly along' said container in spaced relationship" therewith, sai-'dl push rod en; easing'V one portion oisaiclj latch member for normally restraining said" rotary `movemer'rtof' said shaft and forl releasingusaid shaft for said rotary `Increment inresponse t'o apredeterm-ined endwise movementof said pushrod' and said pull rod ex.- tending into the path of movement of another l portion of said latch member,l guide meansse cured to said container for continuously holding theilower endof` said pull- `rod inthe path roi movement of' saidV another portion of said latch member,` and an indicator movable `with' said shaft upward movement of? said reciprocable memberto disconnect A said" biasfrrg means therefrom-i` to permit said reciprocable member tofdlrop back*` to the normal position followingithe occurrence or externally o1r said housing for visibly indicating the occurrence of said rotary movement. l SIA tank-wall `temperature indicatingfdevice l comprising `a. l'ionsingoiA insnlatingmaterial, a

said upwardl movement, means eii'ective following the`discorrnection` for reconnecting said` biasing means tasa-id reciprocable membento1 urge `said' reciprocable member' back to normal position,`

guide? means `corrlfinin)ns1-1y` restrainingy rotary' movement or said reciprocablie member; and visa ibl'e means externally` of saidl housing operable inrespense tosaid upward movement. i

tank-wall temperature indicating device comprisinga housingl having mounted thereina hcl-row container cicsedf at the Tower end'ana @pen atA upper'endf, saidcontainerbeing so mounted that a relatively smallportion `thereof extends outside or" said?housing forengagement a` i tank wall; a reciprocably movablefmember tted i looselyinto said' container and arranged forI end# t wisemovem'ent respect` thereto; normally t frozen fusible materiali disposed! withintheI space between said "container and said movablemember and normally frictionally restraining' said hollow container closed atlthe lower end' and i open atv the upper end carried by 'said' housing',

said container having one portion` thereof dis-` posed within said# housing and another relatively small portion extending outside `of` saidA housing i' li'for engagement with a tanl;` wall, atreciprocably l movable member having a diameter less than the t diameter oifthefhollow of said containerextendjv` 1 ing therein and arrangedfor endwisemovernent t with respect thereto, normality frozenfusi'ble ma- E' terial disposed withintllieannular space betweensaidcontainer andsaid movable member `and normally joining said member" to sai'd container by means ci frictional engagement with the respective members,` a rotatable shaft jour# nali-odin saidthousing, a latch member fastened i to said sham means biasing said' shaftior rotary movement means `operatively connecting' said` movable member withV said latch member for norl mall'y restraining`rotaryv movement of said shaft and for releasing-said shaft for rotary movement i'n response to a predetermined upward movement l of said movable memben means responsivev to t said rotary movement for operatively connecting saidfmovable member with said latchimember for 5f urging said movablemember downward tonor`j` mal position, guide means cooperating withsai'd connecting means for continuously restraining. rotary movement of said `movable `member with i respectfto said. container, and an. indicator movi able with said shaft `externally of' said housing 1 ing awhousina a container closed at tha lower l for visiblyindicating` the occurrenceol said. rotary movement* 1 i t 4. A tankf-wall temperature, indicator comprisend and open at the upper end mounted in` saidhousing,l said container having alportion thereof` extending; outside ofsaid, container for engage,- ment with a. tank walL a `longitudinally reciprorl cable memberV ntted loosely-into the container i and extending downwardly therein through the open end thereof to' a normal position, normally 1 frozen, fusible; material disposed within, said. con- I tainer and normally rigidly fastening sai-drafn ciprocable. member theretoy by' means; oririctronal i engagement: with therespective members, biasing, t

means effective, to move: saidi reciprocable mern.- bera upwardly` in endwise" direction when said t iusible material) fuses, meanszdependentuupon. the

movablemember in response to` a predetermined 'endwisemovement ofsairi movable member to `rnerrhit concurrent rotary movement ci' said shaft j and* endwise movement downwardly ofsaifdi mov-` able member to the normal position, additional I means responsive to saidrotary `movement for operatively reconnecting said movable" member with said` latch member to assistsaid end'wi'se movement downwardly, and` indicating n-reans-secured tojsaid|` shaft externally of said housing for visibly indicating the "occurrence ofthe lconeurirent rrroven'rents'.y i i "i 6; Al tanl'rewafll temperature indicating` device i comprising a housing hav-ina mounted therein a i hollow` container closed at the lower end and open*- at the `upper end,` therarrangement being such` that a relatively smalljl portion of said container extendsvlaterally outside of' said' housing for en-` l sagement with a` tankwall, a reciprocablymovl able member extendingloosely'into saidA containerI to, a normali position and arranged for endwise i movement. with respect thereto, normally frozen iusible material disposed within the` spiace" be-` tween saidcbntaner and' said movable member ma normally nationally restraining@ said enciwise movement, a rotatable shaft journalled in said housinggwa latch. member; `fastened to ,said shaft, means. biasing said shaft for. rotary movei ment, connecting means secured to said movable member and arranged to releasably engage said latchl member while normally purging; saidV movablemember upward, said connecting means disenaaging. said latchmember fromsaid movable member inrespo-nsetoa predetermined upward movement thereof to `concurrently release said l shaft, for -rotary movement and said, movable member forl downward endwise. movement to the normal p iositiorrN additional l means `respoI-isive to said rotary movement. lfor operatively1 :reconnect-` ingsaict movable: member with-.said latch: member to: assistr said endwise movementdow-nwardlyand nrzlica-tingl means securedto said externally of 'said housing for visibly indicating. the ocmember upwardly for indicating the occurrence of said upward movement, fusible material arranged within said container to normally. frictionally restrain upward movement of-said member when said material is unfused and for releasing said member from said container when said material-fuses, and means operativain response to said upward movement for restoring the container closure to the closed position.

- 8. In a tank-wall temperature indicating device embodying a container closed at the lower end and open at the upper end, a reciprocably movable member extending downwardly through the open end of said container, a rcontainer closure movable with said movable `member, normally closing the open end of said container, indicating meansv urging said reciprocably movable member upwardly, said indicating means causing upward movement of said member and indicating the occurrence of said upward movement, normally frozen fusible material within said container and arranged to normally fric-y tionally restrain the upward movement of said member, and means operative following said upz,

ward movement for holding said member against upward movement.-

9. A tank-wall temperature indicator comprising a housing, a container having a longitudinally extending hollow therein closed at the lower end and open at the upper end, said container being carried in said housing and projecting outwardly therefrom, a longitudinally reciprocable member tted loosely into said containerand extending downwardly therein through the open end of said container to a normal position, normally frozen fusible material disposed within said hollow and normally frictionally fastening said reciprocable member to said container, biasing means effective to move said reciprocable member upwardly in endwise direction when said fusie' ble material fuses, means dependent upon the upward movement of said reciprocable member .reciprocable member 'tted loosely into said container and extending downwardly therein through the open end of said container to a normal position, normally frozen fusible material disposed within said hollow and -normally frictionally fastening said reciprocable member to said container, biasing means effective to move said reciprocable member upwardly in endwise direction when said fusible material fuses, means 'dependent upon the upward movement of said reciprocable member to disconnect said `biasing I 11. A tank-wall temperature indicating device 4 comprising a housing of insulating material having mounted therein a tubular container, said container having a hollow therein closed at the lower end and open at the upper end, a` relatively small portion of said container extending laterally outside of said housing. for engagement with a tank wall, a reciprocably movable memberhaving a diameter less than the internal diameter of 'said tubular container extending therein and arranged for endwise movement with respect thereto, normally frozen fusible material disposed within the annular space between said container and said movable member and normally frictionally joining said member to said container, a rotatable shaft journalled in said housing, a latch member fastened to said shaft, means biasingrsaid shaft for rotary movement, means securing a push rod at one end thereof to said movable member at a point above said fusible' material, said rod extendingdownwardly along the ouside of said container to engagement with said latch member for normally restrainingrotarymovement of said shaft and to disengage said latch member in response to a predetermined endwise movement of said push rod to permit concurrent rotary movement of saidshaft and endwise movement downwardly of said movable member to the normal position, and visible means movable with said shaft outside of said housing'.

l2. A tank-wall temperature indicating device comprising a housing having mounted therein a container, said container having therein a hollow closed at the lower end and open at'. the upper end, a portion of said container extending outside of said housing and adapted to Contact a tank wall, a reciprocably movable member fitted loosely into said container and arranged for endwise movement with respect thereto, normally frozen fusible material disposed within the space between said container and said movable member and normally frictionally joining said member to said container` torestrain said endwise movement a rotatable shaft journalled in said housing, a latch member fastened to said shaft, means biasing said shaft for rotary movement, connecting means secured to said movable member and arranged to operatively connect said latch member to said movable member for normally restraining rotary movement of said shaft and to disconnect said latch member' from said movable member in response to a predetermined endwise movement of said movablemember vto permit concurrent rotary movement of said shaft and endwise movementdownwardlyof said mov'- able member to the normal position, and indicating means secured to said shaft externally of said housing for visibly indicating the occurrence of the concurrent movements. l f

' 13. A tank-wall temperature indicating device comprising a housing having mounted therein a container, a relatively small portion of said container extending outside of said housing for engagement with a tanky wall, said container having therein a hollow closed at the lower end and orpen at the upper end, a reciprocably movable member extending loosely into said container to a 2,363,711 normal position and arranged for endwise ,move-4 ment with respect thereto, normally frozen fusi-` ble material disposed within the space between said container and said umovable member and normally frictionally joining said member to said container to restrain said endwise movement, a rotatable shaft journalled in said housing, a latch member fastened to said shaft, means biasing said shaft for rotary movement, connecting means secured to said movable member and arranged to releasably engage said latch member while normally urging said movable member up-z Ward, said connecting means disengaging said i latch member from said movable member in response to a predetermined upward `movement. thereof to concurrently release said` shaft for rotary movement and said movable member for downward endwise movement to the normal po' sition, and indicating means secured tosaid shaft externally of said housing for visibly indicating 20 14. A tank-wall temperature indicating device comprising a housing having mounted therein a` the occurrence of the concurrent movements.`

container, said container being closed at thellower `end and open at the upper end and having a portion thereof extending outside of said housing for engagement with a tank Wall, a reciprocably movable member extending loosely into said container to a normal position and arranged for endwise movement with respect thereto, normally frozen fusible material disposed within the space between said lconductor and said movable member and normally frictionally joining said meml ber to said container to restrain said endwise movement, `a rotatable shaft journalled in said housing, a latch member fastened to said shaft, means biasing said shaft for rotary movement, connecting means secured to said movable mem- `ber and arranged to releasably engage said latch member while normally urging said movable member upward, said connecting means disengaging said latch member from said` movable member in response to a predetermined upward movement thereof to concurrently release said 

